Genie Francis - Daytime Television Career

Daytime Television Career

Genie's most famous role, that of Laura Webber Spencer on General Hospital, would bring her instant stardom in the late 1970s. Luke (Anthony Geary) and Laura became an international phenomenon and the most popular supercouple in daytime history, appearing on the covers of TV Guide, Us Weekly, and People magazines. The television couple wed on November 17, 1981, with 30 million viewers tuning in to make this episode the highest-rated hour in soap opera history. At the peak of her success, Francis left the show in 1982 to try her hand at primetime television. Soon afterward, she landed a starring role in her own series, Bare Essence, which was not a success. Nevertheless, she remained a fan favorite and viewers were delighted when she returned to General Hospital in 1983 for a limited run, to coincide with the departure of Luke when Geary decided to leave the series.

Through the years, other daytime soaps have pursued Francis because of her tremendous popularity. She appeared on Days of our Lives as Diana Colville from 1987 to 1989 and on All My Children as con artist and incest victim Ceara Connor Hunter from 1990 to 1992. She reprised her role as Ceara on Loving in November 1991. She then returned to GH in 1993. In 1994, when Francis became pregnant with her first child, the pregnancy was written into the show and Genie took six weeks off for maternity leave. However in early 1997, when she was pregnant again, she took a much longer absence from the show, staying away for nearly a year and a half.

In September 2002, she abruptly left General Hospital. She wanted to take the summer off, and General Hospital held her to the terms on her contract - GH would not give her the time off she requested, and as a result, she quit.

In June 2006, Francis began negotiating with the casting directors on the show to return to the role of Laura Webber Spencer for a limited run through November. She returned with spectacular fanfare to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Luke and Laura's wedding. The magic of Luke and Laura was recaptured, and the reunion garnered the show more publicity than it had seen in years. Though she reprised the role for only one month, Francis' stint was so successful that she garnered a Daytime Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, which she ended up winning in June 2007. "Oh my goodness!" she said. "Thank you so much. I am overwhelmed. I've waited 31 years for this moment."

In December 2007, Francis had a starring role in the Hallmark Channel movie, The Note, which earned her critical acclaim.

Genie Francis returned to General Hospital in August 2008 to reprise her role as Laura Webber Spencer. Francis told the AP, "It's a mother-daughter story. Years ago when I started playing the character as a 14-year-old girl, it was a mother-daughter story, only I was the daughter. So it's kinda cool this is full circle. It's nice to come back for visits. General Hospital is my home." She continued, "I would stay on, but General Hospital honestly doesn't seem to want that relationship with this character at the moment," said Francis. "They want little short doses during sweeps periods. It's not entirely up to me. I'm thrilled and delighted my audience stands behind me. If they didn't, you can be sure I wouldn't get to come back for these visits." Laura's character was written off as returning to France for treatment for her illness.

On January 31, 2009, Francis reprised her role of Peyton MacGruder in the Hallmark Channel movie, Taking a Chance on Love. (The Note II).

In late March 2011, it was announced that Francis would be joining the #1 hit daytime serial The Young and the Restless as Genevieve Atkinson, the long absent birth mother of the late Cane Ashby. With Francis' appearance on Y&R, she was reunited with former General Hospital co-star Tristan Rogers, who currently portrays Colin Atkinson, the estranged biological father of Cane Ashby.

In May 2012, Francis received her second Daytime Emmy nomination in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Genevieve Atkinson.

On 13 September 2012, it was announced that Francis had been let go from her role as Genevieve Atkinson on the Young and the Restless (due to budget cuts), prompting rumors of Francis' return to GH.